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New Year, New Website!
Park Tudor has launched a new-and-improved parktudor.org website. The new website is fully responsive so you can view it on any device.
The portals for parents, students, faculty/staff and alumni continue to be located at the top right of the page. These portals contain important links for each group, such as My Backpack, Blackboard, Directors' Notes, the lunch menu, upcoming events, and more.
The Calendar on the site is a feed from the school's Dynacal calendar. The Calendar page (link at top of website) displays events from today, this week, or this month by clicking each tab.
A new feature of the site is the ability to subscribe to alerts for news and calendar events. When viewing a calendar or news, there is a yellow bell icon for "Alerts." Click this icon and create a new account to sign up for alerts for certain calendar categories, single events, or news categories. You can receive these alerts via email or text message.
We hope you enjoy the new site! |
Seeking Board of Directors Nominations; Deadline is January 15, 2016
Friday, January 15, 2016 is the deadline to nominate potential board members to the Park Tudor Board of Directors beginning with the 2016-17 school year.
The Governance Committee of the Board is seeking candidates who possess strong leadership skills and strategic-thinking abilities, who have the ability to take a broader school view over their own self-interest, and who have demonstrated commitment to and/or involvement at Park Tudor. Candidates may include parents with children in the various divisions, alumni, non-parents, grandparents, local business leaders and educators. Nominees will be considered for three-year terms beginning in July, 2016. The Governance Committee will conduct a review of all current board members in an effort to complement their skills with those of potential candidates who offer broad and specific skill-sets. The committee also will review and conduct an initial screening of all nominations received by the January 15 deadline; meet with a select number of nominees to further discuss the process in greater detail and to determine their interest; will prepare a short list of candidates for discussion by the Executive Committee of the board; and will prepare a final slate of candidates for recommendation to the full Board of Directors. The Board will vote on the final slate of directors and trustees at its May, 2016 meeting. If you would like to nominate one or more candidates for consideration, please complete this online nomination form by Friday, January 15, 2016.
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Reenrollment Contracts Coming Later This Month
Parents, later this month, you will receive your reenrollment contract for next year in an email from Head of School, Dr. Matthew Miller. The contract can be completed online; complete instructions will be sent with the email.
We thank you for making an important investment in your child's education and for the trust you place in Park Tudor School and our exceptional educators.
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A Word on Wellness:
Nutrition Trends 2016 - Ancient Grains
 By John Richey, Director of Food Service
One of the top predicted nutritional trends of 2016 is the use of ancient grains by many high-end restaurants and informed home cooks. The trend is sparked by the fact that grains such as amaranth, barley, bulgar, buckwheat, kamut, millet, spelt, teff and quinoa have been planted and harvested the same way for thousands of years. These grains, rarely eaten in processed form, are seen as more healthy and natural. They provide more vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein than modern and highly processed wheat. Many of these grains are also either gluten free or low in gluten. Quinoa, not truly a grain but a seed, is one of the few plant-based foods that are perfect proteins.
Incorporating ancient grains in the diet will not only give us the health benefits of a whole grain, but also gives us a wider array of flavors, textures, and nutritional profiles. Ancient grains do have a few drawbacks. Since these grains are not mass produced, they are more costly and they do require additional steps in the cooking process. Some chefs prefer soaking grains overnight to soften their texture, reduce cooking time, and to release additional beneficial nutrients.
The Clowes Commons kitchen has incorporated one of these grains in the menu rotation over the past two years - quinoa. It can be found on our TRENDS bar as an organic offering in Quinoa Couscous and Dried Cranberry Salad.
On another note, this semester we will also be adding two other organic items to our menu for trial. We are adding cottage cheese and yogurt from Traders Point Creamery. The cottage cheese will be offered daily on our salad bar and yogurt will be offered once a week as a dessert choice. We are excited to offer Traders Point Creamery products as they continue our progress toward offering more organic and locally produced foods.
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What is Academic Innovation?
By Peter Kraft, Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs
 "Innovation" is all the rage these days. From education to technology to entertainment to finance, everybody, it seems, wants to be innovative.
But what, really, does "innovation" mean, particularly in independent schools like Park Tudor? For us, it is not trying to be "unique" or "different" from other schools, nor is it simply a synonym for making education more focused on science, math, or problem-based learning.
Instead, Academic Innovation at Park Tudor has a more modest, yet more profound definition. Drawing on the work of educational leaders like Sir Kenneth Robinson and Howard Gardner, we define Academic Innovation as: "the introduction of important individual and systemic changes that...
- Are centered on teaching and learning
- Alter some individual and institutional practices
- Improve performance."
Put differently, in a school setting innovation is about stretching ourselves to experiment with new practices and create new ways of giving kids a world-class education.
Importantly, Academic Innovation does not eschew the basics: reading and writing well; speaking effectively; and working confidently in the realms of the Arts, Sciences, and Mathematics. Instead, Academic Innovation occurs when faculty and students seek to build or use knowledge and skills in novel and interesting ways. Consequently, these innovations in teaching and learning can inform more traditional approaches.
Here are four examples, then, of what we define as "Academic Innovation" at Park Tudor:
- Wonders and Step-Up-To Writing (Lower School): Following an exhaustive review of our Lower School language arts program, this year teachers in grades 1-5 are implementing new critical reading and writing programs. Grounded in the notion that students must read actively and write continuously, the Wonders and Step-Up-To-Writing programs deepen students' facility with language by providing them individualized reading and writing instruction while maintaining our focus on grammar and vocabulary. In doing so, we hope that these new programs will further inform students' work in all areas of their education.
- iD3 (Middle School): "iD3," a new elective for 8th graders that combines design thinking and three-dimensional design and printing, was actually born out of a problem: too many students had signed up for the burgeoning Middle School Computer Science course. But rather than simply "barring the door" and limiting enrollment, we instead decided to split the Middle School Computer Science course into two components: the existing course, which focuses on Python programming; and the new iD3 course, which stresses the aforementioned areas. In doing so, we were able to experiment with two new areas - design thinking and 3-d production - to determine what works, and what does not, in the classroom.
- Southern Studies and Humanities 9 (Upper School): Both of these classes -one a summer school course, the other a year-long option for 9th graders - are grounded in an interdisciplinary approach that stresses critical reading, writing and research. Importantly, both courses also make "experiential education" central to the course. In Southern Studies, students travel throughout the American South for a week, while in Humanities 9 ninth graders work with local food banks on "community-engaged learning" (CEL) project. Moreover, both courses focus on a wide variety of resources and assessment types: from art history and music to food ways, literature and, of course, good, old-fashioned history.
- Innovators Institute (Summer Program for 6th - 12th graders): Begun in the summer of 2015, the "Innovators Institute" provides faculty and students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to study an area of particular interest in depth. Programs range from Design Thinking to Entrepreneurial Studies to Integrated Business to Social Entrepreneurship to Computer Science. Most significant about the Institute is that it provides a "platform and structure" for faculty who are interested in test-driving new approaches and courses. More information on this summer's Innovators Institute is available here.
As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.
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Student-Led Production This Weekend!
Come see the Park Tudor Student-Led & Thespian Society production of "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940." Join us in a suspenseful yet hilarious play that is sure to make you die from laughter.
The creative team responsible for a recent Broadway flop (in which three chorus girls were murdered by the mysterious "Stage Door Slasher") assemble for a backer's audition of their new show at the Westchester estate. As the composer, lyricist, actors and director prepare their performance, a blizzard cuts off any possible escape. Bodies start to drop in plain sight, knives spring out of nowhere, masked figures drag their victims behind swiveling bookcases, and accusing fingers point in all directions. The audience is treated to a sidesplitting good time and a generous serving of the author's biting, satiric and refreshingly irreverent wit.
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Throwback Thursday History: Student-Led Productions
A relatively new part of our year, Upper School Student-Led productions have been the first major event of each new year since 2011. Begun by Brooke DeBettignes '13, students are responsible for every facet of the production with only supervisory involvement from our theatre faculty, Mr. Grayson and Mr. Brokamp. Here, in this short throw back to the past, are two years of Student-Led productions.
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| | 2012 production of Arsenic and Old Lace. |
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| | 2013 production of Fools. |
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Football: Ahrod Lloyd and Brent Brimmage for were recognized as honorable mention All State by the Associated Press. Congratulations!
Hockey: The Central Indiana Knights hockey club, which is Park Tudor's high school hockey team, resumes action with two games this weekend. Come out and cheer on the Knights for Senior Night this Friday, January 8, at 7 pm vs. Bloomington at the Fuel Tank at Fishers. The Knights then play HSE A on Sunday, January 10, at 11:30 am at the Fuel Tank. Go Knights!
Girls Basketball: The Lady Panthers suffered a tough loss this past Monday against Central Christian Academy 47-46. The Lady Panthers were led in scoring by TyraRose Nibbs with 15 points, Taylee Nibbs with 13 points, and Kamryn Sarratt with 12 points. They will be in action again this coming Saturday, January 9th, at home against Horizon Christian School. Game time is set for 11:00 a.m., so please make plans to attend. The first graders will also be performing their slam dunk show at halftime, so you won't want to miss the game or festivities!
Boys Basketball: The Park Tudor boys basketball team competed in the Graber Post Classic at North Daviess High School last week. The tournament was comprised of 8 teams from throughout the state and the Panthers went 2 for 3 on the week, finishing third. They opened up the tournament defeating North Daviess High School 61-52, but then fell to undefeated 3A #9 ranked Pike Central 54-58. The Panthers bounced back nicely, earning a win versus 2A #2 Barr Reeve in their final game 58-39, where they were led by Jaren Jackson Jr. with 19 points, Kobe Webster with 18 points, and Isaiah Rice with 15 points. The Panthers are currently ranked #2 in 3A and will begin play in the Marion County Tourney next Tuesday (1/12) on the road versus Franklin Central. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
Watch the PT Panthers take on Cardinal Ritter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and enjoy a Pacers game!
Your $15 ticket (advance sale) includes the PT vs. Ritter game on Wednesday, January 27 at 7:30 p.m., as well as a reserved ticket to the Pacers/New Orleans game on March 24 and a food voucher for the Pacers game (hot dog, chips, soft drink, Pacers hat).
Tickets are on sale in the Park Tudor Athletic Office from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. from Monday, January 11 up until game day. Coed Swimming: The boys and girls swimming team competed over the break in the Marion County Championships. The girls earned a 12th place finish while the boys earned a 13th place finish. Both teams will next compete in the Indiana Crossroads Conference meet this coming Saturday, 1/9, at Beech Grove High School. The meet is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.
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Faculty and Staff Appreciation Lunch
This year's Faculty and Staff Appreciation Lunch will be held on Friday, February 19. Please see this link for volunteer opportunities and donation requests. We appreciate your help and support in making this an important event for the PT faculty and staff. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Jessie Friskney (jessiefriskney@hotmail.com) or Melanie Martin (melanie.martin1110@sbcglobal.net).
PTPA General Meeting - January 20
The January 20th PTPA General Meeting is sure to be informative. Please join us for "College 101 for Parents" on Wednesday, January 20th at 12:00 p.m. in Foster Hall to hear from Sue Stemen. Sue is the Director of College Counseling and recognized as one of the best in the field. She will give you insight on how she and her team help each child find the perfect match for college. Lunch will be provided so please RSVP to Katherine Dill at katherinedill@yahoo.com. As always, everyone is invited to attend the general meetings. They are offered to help bring informative content to the parents in all divisions of the school.
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Coffee & Conversation - TODAY! Thursday, January 7, 2016
8:00 a.m.
Leffler Gallery/Seminar Room
Join us to catch up with Head of School, Dr. Matthew D. Miller.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - CAMPUS CLOSED
Monday, January 18
PTPA General Meeting
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
12:00 p.m.
Foster Hall
Learn about "College 101" for parents from Sue Stemen, Director of College Counseling.
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January Statements Now Available
Your current statement is now available for viewing in your Park Tudor My Backpack account. Payment is due by Friday, January 29. To determine if you have a balance due, click on the "Account Summary" tab. To see details of your balance, click on the "Statement" tab. Past statements also are available for review, and statements are printable from this screen. You may pay online by clicking on the "Pay Online" option in the lower left corner of the statement screen and completing the electronic payment information, or send payment by mail to: Park Tudor School P.O. Box 6069 - Dept. 105 Indianapolis, IN 46206-6069 Please call 415-2800 if you have any questions regarding your student's account. If you need assistance with My Backpack password or login, please call 415-2710 or email support@parktudor.org.
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Park Tudor School Mission
To create an inspiring college-preparatory learning environment, with exceptional educators and extraordinary opportunities, that prepares and motivates students to become balanced, confident, and resourceful lifelong learners.
Editor: Cathy Chapelle '87
Editorial Staff: Cassie Dull
Graphic Design & Layout: Stefanie Dean '05
The deadline for submissions to the Times is Monday at 9 a.m. for publication on Thursday. Because of the volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee publication in the same week, but date-sensitive information will receive priority.
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